At the 2011 RID Business meeting, members made and passed the following motion:
CM 2011.07
RID conduct a new feasibility study regarding group rate comprehensive health insurance options for members and report back to the membership by the 2013 RID National Conference.
RID Headquarters (HQ) has researched the issue, and the determination is that we do not have the resources to provide comprehensive health insurance options for members. Providing health insurance for our members would have meant that RID would have had to administer the program, including collecting premiums, as well as issue cards and policies. In addition, RID is not the employer of its members, and this is a function usually performed by employers.
RID continues to get phone calls and emails regularly asking if we can/do provide health insurance for freelance interpreters. Mr. Gary Meyer, who provides liability insurance for our members, also receives numerous calls every year inquiring about the same.
Since the original question arose during the 2011 Business meeting, the legal landscape has changed most significantly because of the introduction of the Affordable Care Act (ACA-Obamacare).